In the latest sign life is racing back to normal, the United States is opening its borders to international visitors for the first time in 18 months.

On November 8, U.S. land borders with Mexico and Canada will open up for non-essential travel again. It's the first time since March 2020. 

The requirements are slightly different based on how you're getting to the U.S. If traveling by air, you need a passport, proof you're fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and a negative COVID-19 test. But if you're coming in from Mexico or Canada by land, you'll just need a passport and proof of vaccination. 

Ports of entry will be the busiest they've been in more than a year. 

All ports of entry into the U.S., including ferries, will allow non-essential travellers, such as tourists, if they are fully vaccinated. The new rules will go into effect as of midnight Nov. 8.

To be considered fully vaccinated, 14 days must pass after either a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or after a one-dose vaccine, namely the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine.

The U.S. will accept all vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and those given Emergency Use Listing (EUL) by the World Health Organization (WHO).

These include COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Covishield.

The U.S. will also accept mixed doses of approved vaccines from different manufacturers, as long as they were taken at least 17 days apart.